Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Meeting Loi at Tone on Tone. . . . . . . . .


I just don't know where to start with this post! 
So many beautiful things to show you.
Woods - natural and painted, leafy green topiaries, china, ironstone, glass, 
metal concrete, fabric. . . . . . . all the textures we love in our homes.
I do know however that meeting blog friends in person 
is one of the most fun things ever. . . . . .always!

Meeting Loi Thai from the outstanding blog
Tone on Tone 
made our weekend in Washington, D.C. a double celebration - 
our special anniversary plus an unforgettable visit to the most beautiful
 antiques shop imaginable.



I so enjoyed meeting Loi. He's funny. He's kind. He's one of those special people 
you feel you've known forever after the first hug.  He is an accomplished designer 
of interiors and gardens, as well as a 'shopkeeper'. 
(That's the Brit coming out in me, as Napoleon said, "the British are a 
nation of shopkeepers", not that Loi is British).
We really had fun chatting - I wished we'd had longer - and he kindly helped Bob 
feed those nasty Washington parking meters by digging up many quarters for us!  

Loi and partner Tom have gathered amazingly beautiful pieces of antique 
Swedish furniture, along with stunning European accessories, on their buying 
trips across the pond. 
They recently returned from one and I'm looking forward to see the contents of 
that container when it arrives. I wanted to steal Loi away, along with the entire 
contents of the shop, and bring the whole kit and caboodle back with 
me to North Carolina!

I think you will agree that everything on view in Tone on Tone is beautiful, whether 
or not your personal decor preferences encompass Scandinavian/European furnishings 
and accessories.  Loi and Tom have a vision which they obviously hold very dear and 
never shy away from, both for their shop and fabulous home. 
On visiting Loi's blog, Tone on Toneyou will also see their stunning Washington
house and garden, as well as their attractive vacation home in Maine.

Loi called me yesterday and, among other things, we 
discussed the excitement and upheaval at his home last week. . . . . go check his 
current blog post and read the exciting news about another magazine shoot! 






Tone on Tone sits on a brilliant sunny corner in bustling Bethesda, Maryland, just 
outside the District of Columbia. Everything is light and bright, clean and shiny.
It's many, many years since I lived not far from here. I can imagine how greatl it 
would have been if the shop had been there back then.
Just passing the sparkling clean windows, gazing through at all the wonderful things
for home and garden, is breathtaking . . . . . . then opening the door and walking inside,
only to fall in love with just about everything, is a very special feeling.




Topiaries grown and nurtured by Loi - Bob waiting to feed the meter again so I 
can have more time to look at everything and chat with Loi.






It's so nice to see antiques displayed the way Loi does it. Absolutely no clutter, 
definitely not a speck of dust, and all you might spy stacked up are a couple 
of precious antique vellum tomes from Loi's personal collection. . . . . which I wanted 
to buy and bring back to my cottage. The art of perfect display is at every turn here, 
nothing grimy, dusty and musty like so many antiques establishments.


Thank you Loi for making my visit so enjoyable - thank you Bob who is so good 
about taking me to meet blogging buddies, here, there and everywhere. 
I'm already looking forward to another visit here when in the area.
 Meanwhile, I hope other readers will have the chance to visit and shop here at 
Tone on Tone. . . . . . . tell Loi I sent you, but be prepared with quarters, 
those parking meters are ravenous in the nation's capital, and you'll want
plenty of time to look at everything, take my word for it.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

It's in the bag. . . . . . . . . .


Reminder ~
this Friday I'll be picking the WINNER for the 
FREE 16"X20" canvas print + FREE shipping from canvaspop

If you haven't left a comment yet but would love
to have one of your special photos enlarged on quality canvas, 
which will look stunning on your wall, please leave a comment on
There will be one free print winner 
and everyone else will get a great discount code to use!


 Meanwhile . . . . it will soon be time to start packing again!


For many of us bags are our life lines. Travel bags, not including monster suitcases 
and duffel bags, have to be useful with enough space for the necessities of the occasion.
They need to be compact, comfortable, lightweight to pack into a suitcase and to carry, and 
I'm happy 'across body bags' are back - which really just means they have a longer 
adjustable strap. 
Nothing is more uncomfortable than hauling a heavy bag on one's shoulder, or in 
the hand, when trying to take photos of everything - which we do if we're 
bloggers, don't we?


For travel I like Baggallini brand. They have amazing bags, mostly in interesting,
hard wearing, attractive fabrics, and are therefore lighter than leather. 
My first was a wonderful gift from blog friend Sarah in Texas at Hyacinths 
For The Soul. It's the green/black print above and was for my first 
safari to Africa in 2010. Sarah's gift returned to Africa on my second safari and has 
been on several other trips around the world! It's my most traveled bag for sure.
The grey Baggallini I found quite unexpectedly at a huge discount at the 
AAA (auto/travel shop) when stopping by to pick up maps last year. I really love
this one too with it's many zippered pockets, comfy adjustable strap, and plenty
of room for more bulky items such as a small hairbrush, plus a compact camera!

My gift Baggallini from Sarah ~ Duma Tau Safari Camp
Botswana, May 2010

What's with that leather pouch! It's the same one in the two photos, with different 
colors on each side. Found at Madewell at the mall, on sale, and will use it as 
casual evening bag when I just require my reading glasses, lipstick and cabin key!
I'm adding some deep ink blue clothes for this trip - the blue with red zippers will add 
a little pizazz!


The Eileen Fisher crinkled khaki raincoat/anorak has really been a good addition 
to my travel wardrobe. . . . .and I found it on sale!  
If you've checked Ms. Fisher's clothing line, as lovely as it is, prices are high and
I only buy from the sale rack!
It has a button-on hood, falls to the knee, with a drawstring at the waist and
a sturdy zipper and snaps - very well constructed. 
I've just washed it for the first time and it came out fine. The fabric has a very 
fine, invisible metallic thread in it which I'm guessing keep the crinkles in.


Don't laugh. 
If you know me, you know I always do this when preparing to travel - drag 
out the collapsible Container Store rack and start picking out my clothes and 
accessories several weeks ahead. I find this is the only way I can do it - view 
everything in a bright open room rather than bunched up in the closet among 
things I will not be packing. Here's the first dry run, and no, I will not be able to get 
all those clothes into my one permitted (by the husband) medium sized suitcase.  
I do a lot of mix and match with light layers which can then be adjusted 
according to the weather.
Colors are grey, black, aubergine and ink blue - all my jewelry will be silver.
The items on the pink hangers are already 'iffy' and will probably be left at home.
Out of view beneath the clothes are more scarves - never can have too many, two 
hats and a basket with at least fifty thousand toiletries/cosmetics to sort through. 
I won't bore you with that work in progress.
Footwear? That's whole different ball game and I've yet to tackle it for this trip.
There will be a lot of walking, and thankfully no high heels required for evening -  
back/hip/leg are all so grateful! Just know, the husband has already told me I 
cannot possibly take six pairs, and he will not make room for them in 
his suitcase, enough said.

Travel is not easy.
Viewing the world is fabulous. 



Monday, April 6, 2015

Come into the garden. . . . . . .


Everything's blooming!




Everything's starting to look beautiful!